Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Pasta

via

Ingredients:

- 8 oz. whole wheat pasta (angel-hair, spaghetti, or linguine)

- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

- 4 cloves garlic, minced

- 3 cups peeled & shredded sweet potato (about 1 medium)

- 1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced

- 1 cup diced plum tomatoes

- 1/2 cup water

- 2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley

- 1 tablespoon lemon juice

- 3/4 teaspoon salt

- 1/2 cup goat cheese

Tonight, Carson and I made sweet potato and red pepper pasta...delicious! The different flavors mixed together are amazing and it is super healthy which makes it even better. Alissa from 33 Shades of Green gives very detailed instructions, go here to see how to make it.

It was a ton of fun having help in the kitchen. Carson and I had not cooked together previously and we both really enjoyed it. We will definitely do it again in the future!

Current Obsession

We started watching this amazing show on January 1st, we are already half way through season 5. LOVE IT!

Peanut Butter Milkshake

I LOVE peanut butter, especially peanut butter milkshakes! They are hard to find so I decided to try creating one on my own. It was easy and turned out tasting pretty good!

All you need is:

Reese's Peanut Butter Ice cream

Milk

Peanut Butter

Add to blender and liquefy. Taste to decide if right amount of each ingredient was added.

ENJOY!

Deal of the Day

Old Navy is having a great sale right now! In stores they are offering 40% of the clearance section! The lowest they usually go is 50% but by then there is usually a lot less options. I got the sweater below in black for under $4 and the button up below in both black and white for under $4 as well. Both are online but for over $15. Definitely stop by a store, you will find much better deals!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Finding Balance

I have decided that it is time for me to find some balance. I work hard for my money so I should be able to enjoy the things I buy with it. I am always looking for "the sale" that I often don't get what I really want. I definitely am still going to look for the bargain, but instead of buying a discounted pair of pants I will probably only like enough to wear twice, I am going to wait a little longer and save up for the ones I LOVE and will wear a ton of times. I am going to second guess putting an item in my cart just because it is 60% off and a total steal (not so much a steal when it will just sit in the closet and I will never use it...WASTE). I am excited to see how this goes!

Here are a few items I would love to splurge on...

via

via

via

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POOKIE!!

Today is my Mommy's Birthday! I love her so much and can't wait to celebrate her tonight.

I LOVE YOU, POOKIE!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

xo Pookette

Time for a change

This year I want to concentrate a little more on my overall appearance. I am a sweatshirt and jeans type of girl but when I dress up I really enjoy it.

I want to change things up a bit, I want to feel classy, girly, and I want my personality to show a little more through my wardrobe.

I would like to wear florals, add more color, and wear a lot more gold accessories.

All images via Nordstroms and Google images

I am also hoping to find a watch, I am really loving watches these days and they can add a lot to your look, no matter what you wear.

xo Kristi

DIY Book Wreath

My most recent creation. I will be posting a "How to" post soon.

It is hard to really see the details but my good camera is missing the charger so I have been using my backup camera.

xo Kristi

'Tis the season for giving... and getting

via

I love buying gifts for everyone...LOVE it! Giving is my absolute favorite. Getting gifts is also fun and I am surrounded by very giving people. My mom and dad go crazy every year and give give give. This year they gave me an awesome bag to carry to work. I am excited to use it! Carson's family gave us tickets to the Miami/Portland game, I have not been to a game in years, it is going to be a ton of fun! Carson spoiled me BIG TIME! He got me a tons of things, one of them being a Silhouette...yes, you heard me right...a SILHOUETTE!! I can't wait to get my paws on it! He just set my computer up and I am ready to get crafting! I am going to see if I can figure it out tomorrow. Hopefully it is not a huge challenge.

My youngest sister bought me an awesome necklace, it is so me and I have the perfect outfit for it! My sister Stephanie completely surprised me. She made me the most beautiful quilt, the first one she has ever made. I feel so special that it was for me. Isn't it beautiful? I love the design on the back as well, the swirl design is one of my favorites.

THANK YOU everyone for all the generous gifts! I LOVE every single one!

xo Kristi

HAPPY 2011!

via

Our New Year's Eve celebration was a lot of fun! The last couple of years, we spent the evening together at home watching movies. We really enjoyed those years as well but this year decided to bring in the New Year's with friends and I am really happy we did! The timing of everything was perfect and the night could not have been better.

Carson's good friend Mario and his wife, Christine, came from Salem to spend the evening with us. I love being around them, they are a lot of fun and really easy to be around. It is really nice to have another couple to go on dates with, we don't have many couple friends.

Mario and Christine met at our house for drinks and hors d'oeuvres (I had to look up the correct spelling) and then we took the max (train) to Ruth's Chris Steak House, our reservations were at 9:00. It was only my second time there and dinner was fabulous!

I love how us girls are cheesing away and the guys look completely unprepared

After dinner we went to a nearby bar just in time for a complementary glass of champagne, New Year's toast and midnight kiss.

I am excited to see what 2011 will bring for us. I am lucky to have an amazing man in my life to share many more memories with this year (did I mention that he looked extremely sexy last night! ;) and a loving family that I am so grateful for.

HAPPY 2011!

I hope this year is AMAZING to everyone!

xo Kristi